By Inneh Barth
The victory of Senator Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege as the Deputy Senate President against Senator Ike Ekweremadu did not come as a surprise to many especially, those who have followed his political struggle since he returned from the United States of America to join politics.
In 2002 when he returned home and made frantic efforts to represent his constituency at the national assembly under the platform of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), though he did not succeed, he gave what made described as fierce battle typical of his dogged spiri. Indeed, that struggle was later to be seen as baptism in the journey that now culminated in the Senate leadership.
Armed with an impressive leadership account in law practice and desirous of continuing his family’s legacy of impacting the highest standard of excellence on society, with his fine repertoire of knowledge and huge experience in organised systems, he was appointed as the first Executive Assistant to the then Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori in 2003.
He was also the Government’s Chief Liaison Officer to the Presidency and the National Headquarters of PDP where he developed a vast network of leaders across Nigeria and outside the country and later elevated to the State Executive Council as the Commissioner for Special Duties in 2005.
As Commissioner for Special Duties, Omo-Agege was credited with the development of a robust and dynamic policy in the area of conflict resolution. His unique ability to adapt to complex situations manifested in the prompt release of hostages and recovery of large caches of small arms from youths involved in communal conflicts in the state. Also, his proven ability to manage and complete projects to the highest standards ensured the successful completion of critical projects of the government.
In 2007, he became the Secretary to State Delta Government (SSG). As SSG, Omo-Agege brought an unusual dynamism and developmental strides to Delta’s public governance space.
In 2015 after the election petition tribunal, he was declared the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District under the platform of Labour Party by the supreme court defeating the then PDP senator Iyhoyeta Amori and won re-election in the 2019 general election under the apron of APC to become the first senator to win re-election in Delta Central Senatorial District coupled with his emergence as DSP.
In less than four years of being in the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege passed the Bill establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun as a specialized university; a Bill to Prohibit Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions, a Bill to Amend the Electoral Act, 2010.
He sponsored several other Bills including; a Bill to Establish a National Electoral Offences Commission; a Bill to Establish the Dormant Accounts Fund and centrally Manage all Dormant Bank Accounts/Assets in Nigeria; a Bill to Amend the Court of Appeal Act; a Bill to Amend the National Industrial Court Act; and a Bill to Amend the Companies and Allied Matters Act and Establish State Corporate Affairs Commission.
The Bill establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun was eventually signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. Senator Omo-Agege is broadly respected in the Senate and beyond for his huge intellectual and political savviness, uncompromising sense of justice, uncommon courage and steely grit in defence of rule of law and justice.
Senator Omo-Agege won against Senator Ekwueremadu who has done twelve years as DSP with a distance of 68 votes against 38 votes scored by Ekwueremadu. His supersonic victory was inexplicable, given that in less than four years as APC senator he has won the confidence of his colleagues.
However, the contest was not an easy one, he has to contend with so many obstacles. Chief among them was to explained to Nigerians and his colleagues his roles in the mace theft saga, a reason that triggered the Ekwueremadu’s aspirations.
Senator Omo-Agege will also bear the burden of his inability to deliver President Muhammadu Buhari in his constituency, same election he won his reelection in 2019 general election to break the jinx of being the first senator in Delta Central Senatorial District to win reelection.
Despite litany of court cases pre and post election litigations, Senator Omo-Agege effectively proved himself as a goal getter. He got the generous endorsement by all the stakeholders of the APC and that of the Presidency to emerged the DSP of the 9th senate.
Emerging with a wide merging to defeat a high ranking senator in the person of Ekweremadu, who has been the DSP for twelve years can only be possible with a man with dexterity like Omo-Agege.
Speaking on his emergence, Senator Omo-Agege said: “we all know what transpired in the past. What happened today has turned the page of the eight senate and we have moved to the 9th senate. I look forward to working with my colleagues irrespective of political platforms. We will work together as brothers and sisters. I attributes my victory to God and there is no explanation for that.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his fatherly support that enabled him scale through the huddles just as he commended the people of Delta Central for their support and their earnest prayers towards ensuring that the Urhobo nation has a voice and become the pride of Nigeria.
However, Senator Ekweremadu’s entrance into the race for DSP unprepared or perhaps hoping on his luck at the day of election was regarded by pundits as blunder unexpected of a man of his political experience, who expected to have seen the handwriting on the wall. Ekweremadu further made jest of his decision to recontest the DSP position when he said that he decided to contest so that Nigerians will not blame the senate for allowing a sole candidacy of Omo-Agege simply on allegation of mace theft. Analysts argued that Senator Ekweremadu’s entrance into the race was an attempt to push his luck too far considering how he emerged the DSP in 2015. For 12 years in the Senate he was DSP. Recall that in 2015, the PDP went into an alliance with some APC senators in defiance to the directive of the ruling APC for all Senators under its platform to speak with one voice and elect preferred candidates for the senate leadership. Ekweremadu being a benefactor of that conspiracy, had positioned himself for same position only to be defeated by Senator Omo-Agege.
Many have argued that Ekweremadu could have toed the line of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who withdrew from the race a day to the election, or is it only Ekweremadu that was qualified for the DSP position among all the Senators of the South East and from the opposition PDP. He attempted to curry the favour of a section of the country when he accepted his nomination for the DSP.
But in a post election speech, Ekweremadu said “I thank you my colleagues for electing me the DSP in 2015, under that leadership, in unity we were able to pass number of Bills including the North East Commission and approval of N2 billion for Internally Displace Camps. Sometimes ago precisely about eight months ago some thugs invaded our chamber and brutalising our staff and took our mace. We must defend the sanctity and sanity of the senate.
The question now begging for answer is how Senator Omo-Agege will be able to use his position to bring about the expected unity between not just the legislature and executive but including the judicial arm of government so that Nigerians will benefit from the next level agenda, and how he is able to unify all the warring factions within members of APC in Delta State remain to be seen.
